Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.
Add an extra sprinkling of magic to your winter. Our Christmas Markets & Winter Walking breaks combine a choice of guided walks in the Cotswolds with visits to some of the best festive experiences in Britain.
Highlights:
Harrington House, Sherborne Street, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, GL54 2BY (Google Map)
4:00pm – You’re welcome to check into the country house hotel from 4pm onwards.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way onward.
Unpack Once!
Explore places of interest, beauty, heritage and wonder. Enjoy active guided sightseeing on relaxed-pace trips to revel in the history, landscapes, architecture and culture of your chosen destination. Our knowledgeable leaders will provide fascinating detail to bring it all to life. Travel between locations by mini-coach or public transport following a carefully planned itinerary.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
On each day, you will be walking roughly 3-5 miles (5-8km) throughout the course of the day as you explore the venues and locations we visit. You’ll also be hopping on and off the coach throughout – you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Most of this walking will be at attractions but some may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes. There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. At some venues, there may also be uneven surfaces, such as cobbles or rocky paths.
You’re welcome to check in from 4pm onwards where you’ll have a complimentary cream tea to tuck in to. (D, T)
Accommodation: Harrington House
Spend the day visiting Blenheim Palace and its Christmas market. The lavish rooms and halls of this UNESCO-listed manor house will be transformed into a festive fantasyland that follows the story of classic tale, Peter Pan. Expect Christmas shopping, carol singers, yuletide treats to try, and this grand stately home decorated in its festive best. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Harrington House
Choose one of three guided walks that explore the stunning landscapes of the Cotswolds. For maximum flexibility, all walks begin and end on the doorstep of our country houses. Without need for transport, leaders can adjust walk times to suit weather windows and there’s no need to call time at the café or pub to rush back for a coach.
Distance: 7 miles (11km)
Ascent: 300 feet (100m)
In summary: On this circular walk from Bourton we visit the pretty villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter following the River Eye, before returning to Bourton via Salmonsbury Camp.
Highlight: The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are just a couple of miles’ walk from Bourton-on-the-Water. The River Eye flows through these most picturesque of villages, creating a picture-postcard scene.
Distance: 7 miles (11.5km)
Total ascent: 550 feet (180m)
In summary: Visit both Upper and Lower Slaughter and the medieval village of Lower Harford, before a riverside walk beside the Windrush takes us back to Bourton-on-the-Water.
Highlight: The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are just a couple of miles’ walk from Bourton-on-the-Water. The River Eye flows through these most picturesque of villages, creating a picture-postcard scene.
Distance: 10 miles (16.5km)
Total ascent: 700 feet (220m)
In summary: Follow a clockwise loop from Bourton along the tranquil valley of the River Windrush to Lower Harford and the village of Naunton. Our return route takes us over the fields via the Slaughters.
Highlight: We should have time for refreshments in the Black Horse Inn at Naunton and/or the charming mill shop at Lower Slaughter. Keep a lookout for herons on the riverside section of this walk.
Accommodation: Harrington House (B, L, D)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. (B)
| Departure Dates | Per person (single or twin) | Single in a double room |
|---|---|---|
| 2024: November 22, 29 | $1,080 | $1,200 |
| 2024: December 13 | $1,080 | $1,200 |
| 2025: November 21 | $1,120 | $1,240 |
| 2025: December 5 | $1,120 | $1,240 |
Pricing
Pricing is per person (pp) based on single/twin/double occupancy.
Supplement applied for single in a double room.
Rates include room upgrade (premium) and membership fees.
Rates are in $ CAD.
Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.
Ask us for the best available pricing for your dates & choice of airline. We can assist in your travel to/from the Country House.
During your Discovery Tour you’ll have the opportunity to visit many fascinating places. The following is our provisional programme, and your leader may adjust it at their discretion, taking into account factors such as weather, local opening times, or other events. This holiday includes active sightseeing and you should expect to spend lots of time on your feet.
Most admissions to places of interest are not included. Please allow up to £16 per day for admissions to all the places of interest we will be visiting. The full adult price is given but there are usually good reductions for parties and seniors. If you are a member of the National Trust, English Heritage or similar, remember to bring your card for free admission to their properties. Please bring cash as card machines are not always available at all venues.
Sometimes things happen beyond our control – the weather, traffic jams or changes at the places we visit. If we need to adjust your holiday programme, for whatever reason, your leader will help smooth the way.
Travel Details:
Address is: Harrington House, Sherborne Street, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, GL54 2BY
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is Moreton-in-Marsh. However, the nearest mainline station is at Cheltenham Spa which may be more convenient.
By Taxi:
From Moreton-in-Marsh station a taxi takes approximately 20 minutes and costs £22 if pre-booked. From Cheltenham Spa station a taxi takes around 35 minutes and costs £42 if pre-booked. Please note these are 2020 prices relevant to a 4-seat taxi. 8-seater taxis will be more expensive.
Limozena, our current recommended taxi company, can confirm prices on booking and they will arrange shared taxis wherever possible. To book your taxi please phone or email at least 7-days in advance:
Limozena*
Tel: +44 (0) 1451 820972
Email: denwalmsley@yahoo.co.uk
The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Harrington House Manager.
*Limozena is not owned or managed by us.
By Bus:
From Moreton-in-Marsh station catch the 801 bus to Bourton-on-the-Water,from where it is a short walk to our Country House. Alight next to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Shop. Cross the road to the war memorial and continue across the bridge. Follow this road for 150 metres until the road forks. Harrington House is on the left.
By Car:
From the A429 take the road into the centre of Bourton-on-the-Water. At the war memorial by the village green, turn into Sherborne Street. Cross the narrow bridge and continue for approximately 100yds. Just before the road forks, Harrington House is on the left. Look out for our sign. A car park is available in the grounds with free parking.
In one of the prettiest spots in the Cotswolds, Harrington House provides a stylish escape in the form of a traditional country retreat, with the trimmings and flourishes you’d expect. All set in a stately Georgian house that mirrors the mellow architectural styles of the Cotswolds and retains many of its original features; the most breathtaking is the sunny walled garden, surrounded by attractive landscaped gardens. As well as 29 bedrooms, two lounges, a cosy bar and pleasant dining room, there are further feathers in this handsome house’s hat. Quintessential English countryside, described by JB Priestly as, ‘the most English and least spoiled of all our countryside’, is just a short stroll away with pretty villages such as Chipping Campden and the Slaughters, rolling landscapes and classic trails from the Cotswold Way to the Gloucestershire Way and Monarch Way waiting for you to discover them.
Address: Harrington House, Sherborne Street, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, GL54 2BY
Room Amenities: Tea & coffee-making facilities, TV, Hairdryer, Toiletries, Wi-Fi
Stay in one of the main building’s beautifully presented rooms or in the adjacent cottages. With 26 bright and airy bedrooms, Harrington House has plenty of space and there’s a range of ‘Classic’, ‘Premium’ and ‘Superior’ Rooms to choose from: for a stylish stay opt for rooms 1 or 2, both large master bedrooms located on the first floor that come complete with some of the original Palladian features dating back to 1730, pretty feature wallpaper and views out of the front of the building of classic Cotswolds scenery. Alternatively, for a romantic hideaway, plump for Room 23 in the Windrush Cottage and toast your good taste in the private garden that adjoins this large twin room.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
Hotel Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, boot room and drying room, attractive garden, multi-purpose activity room, lounge, library and board games to borrow
After a day ambling through the Cotswolds, come back to the house and its specially tailored walkers’ facilities. Relax by sitting in the gardens or having a game of croquet on the lawn. Retire to either of the two lounges or climb the sweeping stately staircase to the very top of the house where there’s an observatory looking out across the rooftops of the village. Then pop in to the snug bar for a pint of local ale and a chin wag with fellow guests about their discoveries.
